Luther Clark James

Luther Clark James

Luther Clark “Jimmy” James, 98, of Decatur GA, died March 25, 2010. He was born June 25, 1911 in Pulaski County KY to the late Roscoe Peeples James and Lucy Alma Colyer James. He was preceded in death by his loving wife of 65 years, Betty Lou James and his siblings, Roy L. James, Stella Hines and Raymond James. He is survived by three daughters: Carma Kummins of Milton, Lynn James of Lawrenceville, Diane James of Doraville, five grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren. Jimmy worked the family farm and grocery store and hauled coal before leaving home with an 8th grade education, at age 13, to work at a foundry in Lansing, MI and oil fields in Bakersfield, CA. After WW II he was a route salesman for 30 years before investing in and selling real estate for 25 years. While on a scouting mission during the Battle of Casino he was captured by the Germans. As a POW he was being moved through Italy on an unmarked train that was bombed by the Americans. Jimmy used a pot bellied stove to break out a window, and jumped into a mountain crater near Turin, Italy with another soldier. With the help of local people they survived for seven months until the British Eighth Army arrived and took them on motorcycles back to the US Forces. Jimmy and Betty were world travelers.  As part of the Friendship Force, they visited Japan and Russia. They later toured England, Ireland, France, Germany, Italy, Belgium and Holland. Jimmy loved anything Kentucky, especially the Derby. Jimmy worked out and did water aerobics at the Decatur-Dekalb YMCA well into his 90’s, and was a member of Decatur First United Methodist Church.  Funeral service will be in the chapel of A. S. Turner & Sons, Decatur GA on Monday, March 29 at 2:00 PM. The family will receive friends one hour prior to service. Interment to follow at Decatur Cemetery. A. S. Turner & Sons

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